Development and Trial of a Remote Symptom Management Program via LINE Application for Dyspnea in Patients with Heart Failure

Abstract

Introduction: Dyspnea is a common symptom among patients with heart failure. Conventional symptom management typically involves providing information, telephone follow-up, and home visits, all of which have limitations in monitoring symptoms and providing timely feedback when conditions change.

Research objectives: To develop and pilot-test a remote symptom management program delivered through the LINE application to reduce dyspnea in patients with heart failure.

Research methodology: A research and development design was used. The participants were 15 patients with heart failure purposively recruited from the outpatient department of Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. This research and development study comprised four phases: problem analysis, program design and development, pilot testing, and evaluation. Research instruments included an educational video, a teaching plan, a manual, a symptom management assessment form, and a satisfaction questionnaire. The CVI values were .84, .96, 1.0, .67, and 1.0, respectively. Reliability coefficients of the symptom management and satisfaction assessment tools were .79 and .74, respectively. Data were analyzed using means, percentages, standard deviations, and the paired t-test.

Results: The study resulted in the development of a remote symptom management program delivered via the LINE application. Following the intervention, the participants demonstrated a significantly higher mean symptom management score compared with the pre-intervention period .001. In addition, the overall mean satisfaction score with the program was 4.73 out of 5 (± .45). The satisfaction sub scores were as follows: relevance to users’ needs (4.63 ± .44), ease of use (4.73 ± .19), practicality (4.73 ± .49), and safety (4.66 ± .61).

Conclusions: The program was user-friendly and facilitated effective adherence to recommended practices, allowed continuous access to and review of information, and provided timely feedback. Consequently, patients demonstrated improved symptom management and high levels of satisfaction with the program.

Implications: Long-term follow-up is recommended to support continuous symptom management. Future development should include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to enhance the reliability of research findings.